Ryan Taylor, James Fairley, Luke Pearn and Jay Roper were all on the scoresheet for the Colliers after Kieran Aplin had put Whickham ahead after just 100 seconds.

In an action packed started, it was 1-1 within five minutes. Whickham took the lead in just the second minute as Sam Johnson found himself with possession in a dangerous position on the left, and he pulled the ball across to Aplin who was left with a simple finish.

The Colliers quickly responded to falling behind, and in the fifth minute, Fairley whipped a free-kick into the penalty area where Taylor volleyed home on the stretch to make it 1-1.

Still only in the seventh minute, Pearn drilled a low cross into the penalty area as the Colliers looked to take the lead, but it was just out of the reach of Thomas Bott.

Shortly after, at the other end, Keaton Marrs produced a good save to deny a powerful long range strike.

There were a few stoppages in the first half, all due to injuries to Whickham’s Callum Munro, but when play was allowed, the Colliers took the lead in the 27th minute. A lovely ball played Fairley in, and he had beaten the offside trap. Fairley kept his composure to slot the ball beyond Mark Foden and into the net.

Bott then had a shot saved, before the same man almost turned provider when his cross was inches away from being converted by Taylor.

In first half stoppage time, Bott’s shot was crucially blocked, and then Liam Wright forced a smart save from Foden.

The Colliers deservedly went into the break ahead.

The early stages of the second half were quiet, with an outstanding Andrew Nelson challenge in the 54th minute being the only notable piece of play.

Craig Hennis picked up an injury and required treatment for a few minutes before being replaced by Denny Tapping.

In the 65th minute, the Colliers doubled their lead. The ball was worked to Pearn on the right side of the penalty area, and he cut in before taking aim. Foden got a hand on Pearn’s effort, but it wasn’t enough to prevent it from rolling into the bottom corner.

Tapping had a big chance to add a fourth when looking to dink the ball over Foden only for Foden to save, and there was also a good opportunity for Fairley who shot wide.

The fourth did arrive in the 88th minute, and it came courtesy of the returning Roper. Jay turned well in the penalty area before rolling the ball into the net.

In the end, it was another good win for the Colliers who maybe weren’t at their very best.

Full-time: Easington Colliery 4-1 Whickham

Easington Colliery: Marrs, Barnett, Ord (Hunter, 90+2′), Trewick, Nelson, Taylor, Pearn (Charlton, 86′), Hennis (Tapping, 60′), Bott (Roper, 82′), Fairley (c), Wright (Eltringham, 73′)

No unused subs

Whickham: Foden, Neary, Lavery (Hardy, 69′), Nelson, Munro (Howard, 33′), Agnew (c), Davies (Kingsland, 82′), Pearth (Hall, 69′), Johnson, Aplin (Cooper, 82′), Marriott

No unused subs

Attendance: 150

Referee: Paul Stephenson